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Grizzly Bears: Predicated Space Use & Connectivity Pathways Poster by Sarah Sells, University of Washington

Grizzly bear were nearly extirpated in the U.S. in recent centuries. Today, 4 populations are recovering in the U.S. Northern Rockies. Population connectivity is a conservation goal, as is reestablishing a population in the Bitterroot Ecosystem (Central Idaho and Western Montana).   

Population estimates exceed 1000 bears each in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). The Selkirk (SE) and Cabinet-Yaak (CYE) Ecosystems have 4-5 dozen bears each. To date, the Bitterroot (BE) and North Cascade (NCE) Ecosystems lack any known permanent residents.

Open your cell phone camera and click on the four QR codes to learn more and download data. Research results provide tools for conservation planning and is an approach for understanding habitat use for conservation of many threatened species globally

grizzly bear poster with brown grizzly bears and maps
Connectivity between populations is a conservation goal, as is establishment of populations in currently unoccupied recovery areas. This requires a better understanding of habitat selection within existing populations and ability to predict connectivity pathways among ecosystems. We developed a multi-phase approach to study grizzly bear movement, habitat use, and population connectivity.